Oh, Tamzin; I’m sorry it’s such an exhausting world. I wish I had a spare world lying around which was less exhausting. But I do not, so am very exhausted too
Sending you so much virtual energy Robert. I think having spaces where we can be open and honest about how we're feeling helps... and making even creating from that space (when it's not too tough). I just can't pretend or talk about other things when all of this is going on, I think even those who tune out the news or say that they're not affected, are in fact deeply affected, because as humans alive right now we can't not be.
Maybe this is a completely inappropriate thing to say; I apologise if it is.
But this post made me think about how for me, a lot of the time when the world seems so overwhelming, it’s because it’s too much for any animal to bear. I start to think of all these sustaining things which would nurture any exhausted animal, if they had to cope with a world which was far more exhausting and enormous than they’d ever been built for.
I guess I find it hard to know how to balance that with not turning away from the brutal horrors in the world: it often feels immoral somehow to do sustaining things when there are so many awful things which are happening to so many people. But maybe it’s easier when I see myself in that way?
I know what you mean, but I always come back to this: We cannot be of use to anyone, to ourselves or to others, if we don't take care of ourselves. So if we take time out from the horrors in order to nurture ourselves, to recover from overwhelm, etc, it is absolutely fair and right that we should do so...
Beautiful words, that resonated deeply ❤️🩹. We will not give up or give in to despair . As. Beautiful Palestinian once said to me they cannot afford despair and neither can we. Thank you, I love the word discombobulated 😕 it sums up so much.
Thank you Susan, I appreciate that so much. It's true, we don't have the right to sit around feeling miserable about it, do we? We must take action and do what we can... Also, I wrote this other similar piece about Love and Palestine, probably the most emotional piece I've ever written! Just in case you'd like to check it out: https://tamzin.substack.com/p/love-is-stretchy
I had this quote from Angela Davis , that says something like … it takes as much effort to be miserable as it does to be strong. I could not find , but got this one instead .
You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time."
I remembered this brave article and great to re read…love is stretchy. We are all one and what is done to one is done to us all.
We can feel that and thats why we are not ok. Those feelings keep us motivated to speak out, to cry and shout for those who cannot ❤️🩹 we should and can be outraged. To be sane in an insane world is not a sign of health.
Hi Penny, thank you so much for such a kind comment. I really appreciate it so much -- especially the reminder as we really do need those. It's too easy to get caught up in the audience and the metrics, rather than create with pure, honest intention of what we feel the need to express. This is why I'm going to run my course again in the Summer too, I think we need spaces where we focus on the quality of our creative work rather than the numbers of likes etc, and can support each other through this tough moment too.
I feel this, too. For all kinds of reasons. I appreciate your openness and honesty, which have reminded me that I can be open and honest about my feelings on life, work and the world.
Hi Sarah, thank you for your comment. I'm so honoured if I could be the reminder you maybe needed. I think it can be so hard to speak up, especially when we likely might lose clients or work because of it, but actually bringing that openness and honesty to what we do means that we're staying true to ourselves and to our values...
It's insightful. You write, "...this seems too cruel a place to call home." You are correct. Fortunately, this is only a temporary home. All we can do "here" is work to heal this broken world. I pray for world peace every day. One morning, I found myself praying for José Andrés, the Founder of World Central Kitchen. It was the days after a number of them were recently killed. He was on a news report, and he wept for those he worked beside. It broke my heart.
Oh, Tamzin; I’m sorry it’s such an exhausting world. I wish I had a spare world lying around which was less exhausting. But I do not, so am very exhausted too
Sending you so much virtual energy Robert. I think having spaces where we can be open and honest about how we're feeling helps... and making even creating from that space (when it's not too tough). I just can't pretend or talk about other things when all of this is going on, I think even those who tune out the news or say that they're not affected, are in fact deeply affected, because as humans alive right now we can't not be.
Yes, I very much agree
Maybe this is a completely inappropriate thing to say; I apologise if it is.
But this post made me think about how for me, a lot of the time when the world seems so overwhelming, it’s because it’s too much for any animal to bear. I start to think of all these sustaining things which would nurture any exhausted animal, if they had to cope with a world which was far more exhausting and enormous than they’d ever been built for.
I guess I find it hard to know how to balance that with not turning away from the brutal horrors in the world: it often feels immoral somehow to do sustaining things when there are so many awful things which are happening to so many people. But maybe it’s easier when I see myself in that way?
I know what you mean, but I always come back to this: We cannot be of use to anyone, to ourselves or to others, if we don't take care of ourselves. So if we take time out from the horrors in order to nurture ourselves, to recover from overwhelm, etc, it is absolutely fair and right that we should do so...
Yes, you’re quite right; I must come to believe that in myself
Beautiful words, that resonated deeply ❤️🩹. We will not give up or give in to despair . As. Beautiful Palestinian once said to me they cannot afford despair and neither can we. Thank you, I love the word discombobulated 😕 it sums up so much.
Thank you Susan, I appreciate that so much. It's true, we don't have the right to sit around feeling miserable about it, do we? We must take action and do what we can... Also, I wrote this other similar piece about Love and Palestine, probably the most emotional piece I've ever written! Just in case you'd like to check it out: https://tamzin.substack.com/p/love-is-stretchy
Thanks Tamzin, I will 💗
I had this quote from Angela Davis , that says something like … it takes as much effort to be miserable as it does to be strong. I could not find , but got this one instead .
You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time."
― Angela Davis
That's so beautiful, thank you. I will remember that quote!
I remembered this brave article and great to re read…love is stretchy. We are all one and what is done to one is done to us all.
We can feel that and thats why we are not ok. Those feelings keep us motivated to speak out, to cry and shout for those who cannot ❤️🩹 we should and can be outraged. To be sane in an insane world is not a sign of health.
Tamzin, this is beautiful. I relate so deeply and as you say - I think we all do probably.
Also, you remind me of the honesty I came here to write with and that it’s OK to do so. It’s more than OK. Thank you. 💖
Hi Penny, thank you so much for such a kind comment. I really appreciate it so much -- especially the reminder as we really do need those. It's too easy to get caught up in the audience and the metrics, rather than create with pure, honest intention of what we feel the need to express. This is why I'm going to run my course again in the Summer too, I think we need spaces where we focus on the quality of our creative work rather than the numbers of likes etc, and can support each other through this tough moment too.
Uplifting words and images in unsettled times. We all need a dose of optimism, so thanks for this.
"This world is magnificent…" Yes.
Thank you... gotta keep going for this beautiful world.
I feel this, too. For all kinds of reasons. I appreciate your openness and honesty, which have reminded me that I can be open and honest about my feelings on life, work and the world.
Hi Sarah, thank you for your comment. I'm so honoured if I could be the reminder you maybe needed. I think it can be so hard to speak up, especially when we likely might lose clients or work because of it, but actually bringing that openness and honesty to what we do means that we're staying true to ourselves and to our values...
This was beautiful Tamzin 💛✨
Thank you so much Mackenzie! How are you? Always lovely to hear from you here...
Doing well thanks for asking. Happy that it is springtime! 💗
It's insightful. You write, "...this seems too cruel a place to call home." You are correct. Fortunately, this is only a temporary home. All we can do "here" is work to heal this broken world. I pray for world peace every day. One morning, I found myself praying for José Andrés, the Founder of World Central Kitchen. It was the days after a number of them were recently killed. He was on a news report, and he wept for those he worked beside. It broke my heart.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful reflection Tamzin 🙏🏽
Hearing you read it was a lovely inclusion 🖤
Thank you Jamal for your comment. It's the first time I've added a voiceover too!